According to police, Reynolds became angry Thursday night when his daughter, Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau, did not want to do her homework, KOAT reported. Reynolds allegedly told police, "He blacked out" after he started spanking her, the television station reported.

Reynolds called 911 around 1 a.m. Friday and reported that his daughter had gone into cardiac arrest, KRQE reported.

"When rescue arrived they realized this was turning into a criminal situation and they called us and we took over the investigation," an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said Friday at a news conference.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, officers noticed blood stains on the living room carpet and wall, KOAT reported. When officers went to the hospital, they said they observed severe bruising on the child's body that was consistent with the tread of a shoe, according to the television station.

Sarah was pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital on Friday morning, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

In a news conference, Police Chief Michael Geier called Sarah’s death a “heartbreaking tragedy.”

“Our officers and detectives are working diligently at this time to bring justice to this little girl,” Geier said.